People's Democracy

Comrade P K Tandon 

COMRADE Pratap Kumar Tandon, veteran freedom fighter and one of the pioneers of the kisan movement in Uttar Pradesh passed away on January 4. Comrade Tandon worked as state secretary of UP State Kisan Sabha for many years before shifting to the all India centre of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS). He was the joint secretary of AIKS for more than two decades. After giving up the job of a mechanical engineer, he had joined the Left movement to serve the toiling masses in the 1940’s itself, the mission for which he remained committed till his last breath.

In a statement the All India Kisan Sabha and All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) mourned the sudden death of Comrade Tandon. Recalling his services to the toiling masses, particularly the kisan movement, both the organisations stated that they dip their flags in his memory. They sent their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

In a message to the AIKS, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, CPI(M) general secretary condoled the death of Comrade P K Tandon.

Following is the full text of Surjeet’s message:

I am very sorry to learn of the death of Comrade P K Tandon.

I have been very closely associated with Comrade Tandon ever since he started working at the all India headquarters of the Kisan Sabha. We had been closely interacting with each other, both as office bearers of the Kisan Sabha as well as at the level of the Party.

Comrade Tandon used make an in-depth study of the problems afflicting the peasantry and used to write at length in the Party’s papers.

His death is a big loss for the Kisan Sabha and the democratic movement.

I convey my heartfelt condolences to his family. (INN)